Criminology

This course focuses on the basic principles of psychology and criminal profiling to gain an understanding of how we can examine a criminal’s modus operandi (MO) to increase the likelihood of solving crime.

As an officer, you will learn how to apply these basic criminological theories to analyze elements of crime such as location, method, frequency, and patterns in real life crime scenarios. You will also examine the important role of collecting information, sharing information, and using this information in the application of profiling crime and criminal activities.

When you have completed this course you will be able to:

• Introduce, explain, and apply basic criminological theories
• Describe how Geographic Profiling (Environmental Criminology), when used with other theories, can help predict crime patterns and provide the proximity of the offender’s residence
• Explain the Routine Activities Theory
• Apply the Routine Activities Theory to a basic pin map
• Explain the Least Effort Principle
• Demonstrate how the Least Effort Principle is applied to a basic pin map
• Explain how the 80/20 Rule states that the majority of crimes are committed by a small number of people
• Explain the significance of how the Distance Decay Theory can pinpoint the general area of a suspect’s residence or, in absence of a residence, a suspect’s anchor points
• Recognize the importance of collecting information
• Recognize the importance of sharing the information once you have it
• Apply the theoretical knowledge to everyday crime scene scenarios

Target Audience

Sworn Police, Police Services, Government and Other First Responders

Content Provider

Content for this course was provided by the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP)